Architect Lays Out $1.7M Reno Plan for Woman's Club

Updating the Maplewood Woman's Club could cost roughly $1.75 million, according to recent architectural and engineering reports commissioned by the township.

That estimate, prepared by local architect John James, would include bringing the building up to code, replacing some of the siding and roof, adding new doors and windows, repairing walls and ceilings, restoring the theater, replacing or renovating all the bathrooms, adding air conditioning, renovating the kitchen and adding an elevator, among other items.  

The report is attached to this article as a PDF.

James stressed that the actual total renovation costs would depend on the building's final use, which the township has not yet determined.

Township Committeeman Jerry Ryan and Deputy Mayor Kathleen Leventhal, who head the will report on the estimate at Tuesday night's Township Committee meeting.

"The report just came in, the task force reviewed it, the engineer just reviewed it and now we are discussing it on Tuesday," said Ryan, who said that some of the work, including repairing leaking downspouts and replacing rotting wood, is essential while others, such as installing central air, are optional.

The township is expected to close on the property on May 29, according to Mayor Vic DeLuca. (The purchase price is $1,004,100.)

James said if the building were used in a variety of ways including for events, performances and office space, "I think you might need to do most [of the renovations]."

He said the township could do the work in phases. Also, they are looking to partner with someone to manage the building and pay rent to defray the costs of refurbishment.

But, he said, he would not recommend a "bubble gum approach" to the project. "You might want to do [improvements] now and not have to do it later. That's the proper way to do it."

James, who is also president of the Maplewood Village Alliance, said he believes the township was wise to purchase the Woman's Club in light of the upcoming redevelopment and construction of the Post Office site, which will cause considerable disruption to the Village for at least a year or more. 

In the short term, the town gained the use of the club's roughly 60 parking spaces, which can replace spots that will be lost during construction of the Post Office site. "In some cases you have to solve the immediate needs before you go into the long term," he said, adding "I don't think the township would be able to get that many spaces for less money."

He said if the township had done nothing to make up for the lost spaces, it would have been disastrous. "This was a very smart interim step," he said.

In the longterm, the purchase enables the township to save and preserve a historically important building, said James.

"The [township's] strategy is all very sound," he said, "but no one knows what the total outcome will be." There is still a pending lawsuit brought by neighbors against the Maplewood Zoning Board of Adjustment's decision to grant a use variance for the site. The township is still defending the lawsuit.